A World Health Organisation study in 2012 found Switzerland to have the highest out of pocket healthcare spending (US$ 2,412).

Across the OECD, rising spending is largely driven by new technology, higher expectations, and ageing populations.

An OECD report says that public expenditure on health and long-term care in OECD countries is set to increase to as much as 14% of GDP by 2060, unless governments can contain costs.

The OECD recommends systems to control overspending, increased funding via “sin taxes”1 to reduce the reliance on payroll taxes, a declining revenue source as populations age, and greater focus on health promotion and disease prevention – non-communicable diseases, partly driven by lifestyle, are the largest burden on healthcare across the OECD.

1 “Sin taxes” are taxes applied to products associated with disease, such as tobacco, alcohol and certain foods.